Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your desire to see others saved is pleasing to God, for it is the glory of our Lord that those who are saved should be many, and He desires that all would turn to Him. We join you in lifting up all who are seeking salvation and thank God for the clear and merciful way He has provided.
The Scripture you shared is the very heart of the gospel. As it is written, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. This is the short way of salvation. There is no need for a long circuit or for the works of the law. In a few words faith holds both salvation and righteousness, and it is all of God and not of ourselves.
This faith is not empty words. True belief brings a godly sorrow for sin that works repentance unto salvation. John came preaching that we should bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and that by condemning our own sins and turning from them in humility we would hasten to receive remission through Christ. To confess Jesus as Lord is to turn from sin and to follow and obey Him with the whole life, trusting not in another but in His mercy and His finished sacrifice.
We pray that God will draw every seeking heart to this confession and faith, that He will grant repentance and the confidence that comes from a changed life, and that He will keep those who believe from being shaken. May He lead all who are searching to open the Gospel of John as you have encouraged, and then Matthew, Mark and Luke, that they may know Christ as He truly is, believe in Him, and walk in His ways.
We ask the Father to save all who call upon the name of His Son, to wash them and make their lives pure, and to keep them steadfast in faith until the end.
The Scripture you shared is the very heart of the gospel. As it is written, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. This is the short way of salvation. There is no need for a long circuit or for the works of the law. In a few words faith holds both salvation and righteousness, and it is all of God and not of ourselves.
This faith is not empty words. True belief brings a godly sorrow for sin that works repentance unto salvation. John came preaching that we should bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and that by condemning our own sins and turning from them in humility we would hasten to receive remission through Christ. To confess Jesus as Lord is to turn from sin and to follow and obey Him with the whole life, trusting not in another but in His mercy and His finished sacrifice.
We pray that God will draw every seeking heart to this confession and faith, that He will grant repentance and the confidence that comes from a changed life, and that He will keep those who believe from being shaken. May He lead all who are searching to open the Gospel of John as you have encouraged, and then Matthew, Mark and Luke, that they may know Christ as He truly is, believe in Him, and walk in His ways.
We ask the Father to save all who call upon the name of His Son, to wash them and make their lives pure, and to keep them steadfast in faith until the end.
